A crutch of sorts

The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can’t receive the gifts of God’s Spirit. There’s no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit—God’s Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God’s Spirit is doing, and can’t be judged by unspiritual critics. Isaiah’s question, “Is there anyone around who knows God’s Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?” has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ’s Spirit. (I Corinthians 2:14-16 MSG)

Try to receive and understand the gifts of God's Spirit apart from saying yes to Jesus and you will find yourself thinking they are kind of a 'crutch' or some form of 'spiritual bunk'. The gifts of God's Spirit are things like discernment to know the difference between truth and lies. There is this undeniable peace that rises up in the face of conflict and situations that should cause intense worry and deepening anxiety. We enjoy the goodness of his grace, keeping us and making us whole when our actions are less than stellar. The gifts of God's Spirit are for everyone, but one must acknowledge their desire to know Christ and the power of his resurrection life.

We have Christ's Spirit and that makes all the difference in how we view life, doesn't it? Things that should crush a human's spirit have very little power over the Spirit of God who dwells within each of us. The human spirit might waver, faltering over some stuff on occasion, but if the Spirit of God dwells within a man, his strength isn't found in the circumstances of life. It is found in the peace of God that passes all understanding - in his strength within, his discerning voice directing the path we should take. Those who don't understand this type of unwavering, committed faith will always find ways to criticize us, but they will be hard pressed to be able to poke holes in the kind of trust!

We don't always know what God is doing in our lives, but we can trust him to do what he knows will bring the best outcome. At first, the times when he brings conviction and asks for correction in our choices may seem a little bit 'harsh' or 'unloving', but if we actually take the steps toward correcting that behavior he lays out before us, we find that we are actually being 'loved' in a way this world never could love us. The discipline of God always comes with his grace to embrace it, lovingly helping us to find a new path that will move us from a place of sinfulness into a place of righteousness in spirit, body, and soul. 

The gifts of God's Spirit are innumerable, but they are always present with us because his Spirit dwells within. We may not 'feel them' operating within us all the time, but if we learn to rely less upon what we feel and move toward trusting his guidance, we will sense his goodness directing us each and every step of the way. Maybe the unbeliever will see that as a 'crutch' of sorts, but I have used crutches several times in my life and know the value of having the 'support' when I am unable to support myself on my own two legs. In much the same way, God's Spirit is there to help us when we don't have the ability to help ourselves. That isn't a bad thing - it is a very beautiful one! Just sayin!